Vaporizing oil burner



Oct. 7, 1958 J. w. MILLER ETAL VAPORIZING on. BURNER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1953 INVENTORS JOHN W MILLER 3 6 EQEDEP/CK 7.' STONEK mm WWW ATTOQNEYS Oct. 7, 1958 J. w. MILLER ETAL VAPORIZING OIL BURNER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 24, 1953,

INVENTORS JOHN W MILLER 3 5V FEEDER/ck T Sro/wsv.

ATTOQVEYJ.

Oct. 7, 1958 J. w. MILLER ETAL 2,355,031

VAPORIZING OIL BURNER Filed Aug. 24, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JOHN W MILLER 3 6v FEEDER/CK 7. STONE! ATTORNEY).

1958. J. w. MILLER ETAL VAPORIZING on. BURNER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 24, 1953 INVENTORS JOHN W MILLER 3: FEEDER/CK P m/V51.

A TTOENC Y5.

Oct. 7, 1958 2,855,031-

J. W. MILLER ETAL VAPORIZING OIL BURNER Filed Aug. 24, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TORS JOHN W MILLER 3:

FREDERICK T STONE! awmggzu m ad ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 7, 1958 J. w. MILLER ETAL VAPORIZING OIL BURNER Filed Aug. 24, 1953 6 Sheets$heet 6 mmvrozzs JOHN W MILLER 3 FesaEelcK T STQNEY.

ATmRNEYJ.

United States Patent O VAPORIZING OIL BURNER John W. Miller and Frederick T. Stoney, Lansing, Mich., assignors to Motor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 24, 1953, Serial No. 376,094

11 Claims. (Cl. 158-91) This invention relates to a vaporizing oil burner.

Vaporizing oil burners are old and well known in the art, see, for example, Valjean Patent 2,073,270 and the Hill Patent 2,535,923.

It is an object of this invention to improve upon this type of vaporizing oil burner so that it will burn with an unusually clean fire substantially throughout the low, intermediate, and high fire stages of combustion and also so that it will burn with a clean fire with any type of fuel oil on the market today, such as the straight run distillate fuel oils or catalytically cracked distillate fuel oils.

This invention contemplates a vaporizing type oil burner that will burn liquid fuel substantially throughout the low, intermediate, and high fire stages of operation with a fire that is substantially cleaner and more efficient than attained heretofore by the vaporizing type oil burners of the prior art.

The invention generally contemplates a vaporizing type oil burner pot in which the fuel is admitted to an annular channel around the bottom of the pot and caused to vaporize and mix thoroughly with primary air at a relatively low temperature to form a mixture which flows upwardly in the pot where secondary air is supplied for combustion. A baffle is provided near the bottom of the burner pot which shields the oil in the annular channel from direct radiant heat from the burning mixture at the upper end of the pot. This bafile is arranged with respect to the lower primary air inlets so as to promote vaporization and an intimate mixing of the oil with air immediately after vaporization and at a relatively low temperature.

Referring to the drawings wherein several embodiments of the invention are illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a burner of the present invention showing the operation at the high fire stage of combustion.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower end of the burner pot showing the manner in which the baflle is arranged therein.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the operation of the burner at the low fire stage of combustion.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a generally sectional view of a modified form of burner construction of this invention.

Figs. 6 and 7 show modified forms of baffle construction of this invention.

Figs. 6a and 7a are top plan elevations of the conical baffle arrangements shown respectively in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged showing of a portion of the vertical sectional view of the burner shown in Fig. 3 to more clearly illustrate the flow of air and oil vapors.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modified form of baffle arrangement.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional showing of the conical battle with a modified form of slot, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevation of this slot as viewed from the inside of the baflle.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, a vaporizing type oil burner pot is shown at 10. The burner pot 10 comprises two parts, a side wall 12 and a bottom portion which includes bottom wall 14 and bottom side wall 16. The upper edge of side wall 16 telescopically receives the lower edge of the side wall 12. Adjacent its upper end the burner pot 10 is provided with a generally conical top wall 18 having a central opening 20. An anti-explosion baflle 22 is positioned on top wall 18. An outwardly projecting annular head 24 is formed adjacent the upper end of side wall 12. The head 24 has a rather close fit with the skirt 26 which defines a combustion chamber 28 above the burner pot 10. Within the pot 10 and below top wall 18 there is arranged an inclined baflie 30 provided with a central opening 32. Side wall 12 is provided with vertically spaced rows of air inlet openings 34, some above, and others below, baffle 30.

Bottom wall 14 of the burner is generally flat and tapers slightly in an inward and downward direction. The central portion of bottom wall 14 is fashioned with a raised cylindrical portion 36 which cooperates with the bottom 14 and side wall 16 to define an annular channel for oil at the base of the burner pot. Oil is admitted to the burner through an inlet 38. In all forms of the burner the oil is supplied to inlet 38 through a conventional fuel oil control (not shown) which both meters and maintains the fuel oil at a constant level. Adjacent the inlet 38 the bottom wall 14 is formed with a depression 40 which provides a sump in which a small body of oil collects, particularly under minimumfire operation.

A baflie 42 is arranged at the bottom of the burner. Bafile 42 preferably takes the form of an inverted truncated cone and is provided with an inclined wall 44 which terminates at its lower end in a cylindrical upstanding flange 46 having a telescopic tight or close fit with the cylindrical side wall 48 of the raised centralportion 36 of the bottom wall 14 of the burner. Inclined wall 44 of baflle 42 is provided around its upper edge with an annular horizontal flange 50.

The side wall 12 of the burner pot is provided adjacent its lower end with an inwardly projecting annular bead 52. A series of primary air inlet openings 54 are formed in bead 52. Openings 54 are arranged around the lower side of bead 52 with the central axes of these openings extending generally toward the wall 44 of baffle 42 so that the air flowing through these openings impinges in the form of air jets against, and is deflected downwardly by, the under side of wall 44.

In the operation of the instant burner it is essential that communication be established between the chamber 60 and the inside of baffle 42 so that gases can flow from within the conical bafile into the mixing chamber 60 adjacent the lower end of the baflle. This communication between the area within the conical baflle 42 and the mixing chamber 60 can be established in several ways. By way of example, referring to Figs. 1 to 5, baffle 42 is provided adjacent its lower end with a series of rectangular slots 56. Slots 56 are arranged as an annular series spaced slightly above the central raised portion 36 of the bottom wall of the burner. Slots 56 preferably are formed in the conical wall of the battle, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, by shearing out the bottom edge only, thus forming a closed end louver 58. Slots 56 can also be formed (Figs. l-5) by shearing the slots along their lower and side edges and bending the metal outwardly about the upper edges of these slots and thereby provide a generally vertically disposed flange or louver 58 depending from the upper edge of each slot and shielding Patented Oct. 7, 1958' the openings 56 from the air entering through inlets 54. Baffle'42 cooperates with bottom wall 14 and side walls 16 and 48 to define at the base of the burner pot an annular fuel vaporizingand mixingchamber 60 having aperipher'al opening at its upper end..in.the..form of an -.annular .g ap .62. defined by theouter edge of.horizontal .fflange 50.and the, inner face of head 52.

'f In .the. operation of ,thelburner,..oil flows. into the burner pot'through; the inlet 38.;and spreads out.as. a ,thinllayer over, the bottom wall l4. .The burner will opera'te on either natural draft. or with mechanical or Tforced draft. {Combustion'chamber 26, 28 will be con- ;nected to a chimney flue in-a conventional manner. Air "flows into the lower end ofthe burner'throughxthe primary rairlinlet openings 54 and this 'airirnpinges in the form of "jets orjifingersagainst the-under side of'the inclined wall "44 of baffle .142. .Wall 44 deflects this air downwardly itowardsthe bottom wall 14 and the air then flows in a :"radially'outward.direction toward wall 16 over the sur- {faceiof'oil vaporizing on wall 14. .The air thus mixes 'withthe vaporized oil and the mixtureflows upwardly adjacent the-"bottomside'wall 16 through the annular gap"or"restriction"62 'andthen upwardly through the burner where it is mixed with further air and then burned. -Observation of this burner in operation has disj closed that in general'during operation above minimum -f-fire a-portion of the gases in'the space 64 directly above and within bafile' 42 recirculates,,that is, flows downwardly fromwithinconical bafiie through slots 56 into chamber '-60-where it-mixes with the fuel-air mixture initially form- -ing-therein. The flanges or louvers 58 which depend from the upper-edges of the rectangular slots 56 aid this *circulation of air and oil vapor'mixtureand also prevent -esc ape'of the air-oil mixture from chamber 60 upwardly through 'slots 56. Baffle 42 thus insures an intimate mixing'of the oil vapors with-air. 'The baffie 42also shields *lthe air-oil mixture in chamber'60 from'the radiant heat of the flame in the burner and thus promotes vaporization or theoil ata-relatively low temperature.

"Inan elfort to illustrate more clearly the'pattern of c the flamefairflow and the flow of air-oil vapor mixture, *arrows-have-been incorporated in Figs. 1 and 3 to gen erally depict this pattern. The arrows 66, formed with continuous solid lines, represent oil vapor; the arrows 68, formed-=withshort broken lines, represent the flow -f-air;-.and= the arrows'70, which are formedby broken lines of different lengths, represent the flow of air-oil vapor :mixture.

Fig. 1, -it will be observed; shows the -high'firestage of combustion while Fig.3 shows the sameburner at a low :"fire :stage of combustion, intermediate pilot and high idfire. .In the high fire stage of combustion,'shown in .i-iEig. l1, -the-oi1 flow through inlet 38 is substantially wgreatemthan the oil flow during low fire operation. Thus, t-theair-oil vapor. mixture'flowing from the mixing chamber 60 in Fig. 1 is richer than the air-oil-vapor mixture :Lflowing out of chamber 60 in Fig. 3. The rich mixture ';:is;1mixed":with the streamsof air enterng the burner :.through:the arw inlet openings 34 above and below baifle -E30-;andccombustion occurs'principally at'the upper end, aand-s'above'ithe.outlet '20, of the burner in combustion zchamber'l28. At low: fire operation, the air flowing into .vthezburner. through .the-air inlet openings 34 below baflie .l;130.-di1utes .theiair-oil vapor mixture sufliciently to" form tzaxrfiombustible.mixture generallyin the region of baffle 30;;and:combustion therefore occurs principally within -..the:.bunneri,at, above,-or-below the central opening 32of .batfle;30 and below;:outlet 20. The construction shown ;in" F igs.. l: and: 3 .isthe same and the only difference be- .tween:;the: .showings of these figures is in the operation ..of. the burner.

-.Dur,ing., bothz.highiand low fire operationzof the burner ..tl;e..air..e ntering the. lower. row of primary-air inlet open in gs,5.4.flows.into.the burner in the form of jets. These jetsmf primary airlare directed against the outer or .under. face.,of; the batfie- 42.;so. that. theaair-flowing. .down

..not be obtained.

the outer face of the baflle sweeps across the openings 56, thus establishing what can be considered a venturi action which draws the gases from within the conical baffle 42 through the slots 56 into the mixing chamber 60. The louvers or depending flanges 58 deflect the stream of air or air-oil vapor mixture flowing along the outside of the baffledown'wardly toward bottom 14 whereupon therflow is radially-outwardlyto wall 16 and then upwardly. The jets of air entering the chamber 60' through -inlets-54' preferably strike. the outer side of :the baflle 42 aboveitheslots-56. However, the axes of the inlet opening 54 can be tilted and'positioned relative to the. outer face of battle 42 so that the .jets or stream of air is'directed parallel to, and along the outside of, the baifle 42. One'of the principal features is that the air stream should sweep down along the outside of the baflle 42 and be deflected away from the bafiie by the louvers or baflles 58 to thereby insure a good venturi action'which draws some of the gases from within the baflle 42 through the rectangular'openings56 forrecir- "culation through-and out of the mixing chamber 60. In actual practice it has been found practical, by'way of example, totilt the axes of the lower row of primary air holes 54 in the burner side wall at an angle of approximately 20- to the horizontal. The streams or jets of air that enter'the-lower row of holes54 intermix'with the vapor arising from the-lower wall 14 of the mixing chamber and these streams of air,'-defiected downwardly'and circulating across the bottom 14 over the oil film toward the outer periphery of the burner, pick up additional oil vapor: and this air-oil'vapor mixture then flows upwardly along the upper wall 16 and passes outwardly through the gap 62between the pencils'of 'air entering the lower row 'Fsuch astheslots 56, substantially improve the operation of;:the :burner.

The gases which flow downwardly and outwardly. through 'the" slots- 56 into the vaporizing and "mixing chamber'60prevent the formation of pockets'of dead, motionless vapors, lower"the 'density ofthe oil vaporfog by reasonof dilution' and'help sweep the air- -oil vapo-rimixture out of chamber '60 and' into the main part of the burner through the annular gap 62. Furthervmore, the heated gases 'which flow'downwardly through .the slots'56 supplyaadditional'heat' to chamber 60 which .helps promote oil vaporization. Inaddition, at--low"fire operationany airiin the .mixture ofgases flowing into' the mixing chamber through the slots 56, provides additional .primary. airfor mixing with theoil vapors'in' chamber 60. It will be appreciatedthatiunless .means, such as .the depending :flanges 58, arelprovidedfor discouraging the movement of'air :outwardly of the mixing chamber through openings 56,lthe:improved 'operation'resulting from the'provision. ofubaffle 42=withi1he slots 56"would The provision of the central raised portion 36 with'its cylindrical side wall'48 is :desirable froma structural or-assembly standpoint also. It'zenables the baflle 42 to be telescoped over central portion 36 and it eliminates 1 .the necessity .for jprividing ran Ioil-tight joint between tion, however, ofa-modified form of primary air inlet opening. Inthe arrangement shown inFig. 5, these open- .ings, designated 72, are formed 'byflperforating the 'side wall 12. of the burner such that the metal' around the upper half portion of theopening. is bent inwardly and the metal around the lower half POI'fiOII Of the openings is bent =outwardly. IIn thislmanner theaxes of the'openings are inclined downwardly in an inward direction-so that the air streams flowing inwardly through these openings impinge against the under side of wall 44 of baffle 42 and are caused to circulate in chamber 60 in the same manner as described above with reference to Fig. 1. Also in the burner shown in Fig. 5, the inclined intermediate baflle 30 is omitted. It has been found that with the baffle 42 arranged as described, the provision of intermediate batfle 30, Fig. 1, although desirable in some instances, is not necessary to produce efiicient and clean combustion.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modified form of baflle for shielding the oil in the annular channel at the base of the burner from the radiant heat of the flame. The baflle includes two conically shaped members 74 and 76. The member 76 is fashioned with an inclined wall portion 78 and an upstanding cylindrical wall portion 80 which is adapted to be telescopically fitted with a tight or close fit over the side wall 48 of the central raised portion 36. The conical member 74 is fashioned with an inclined side Wall portion 82 which terminates at its lower end in a vertically extending annular flange 84. At its upper end, wall 82 terminates in a peripheral horizontal flange 86. The two members 74 and 76 are held in assembled relation by any suitable means, such as welded clips 88. In assembled relation the member 74- is disposed over the member 76 with the flange 84 extending below the upper edge of inclined wall portion 78. The diameter of member 74 at the flange 84 is greater than the diameter of the member 76 at the upper edge of wall 78. Thus, there is provided an annular gap or slot 90 which extends continuously around the baflle between the members 74 and 76. This annular gap 90 and the depending flange 84 perform the same function as the slots 56 and the depending flanges 58 provided on the baflle'shown in the embodiments of the invention previously described. The burner provided with the bafiies as shown in Fig. 6 operates in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

A second modified form of shielding baflle is shown in Fig. 7. This bafile comprises two members, an upper member 92 and a lower member 94, both of which are generally conically shaped. The lower member 94 is fashioned with an inclined side wall 96 which terminates at its lower end in a vertically disposed cylindrical wall 98 adapted to be telescopically fitted over the cylindrical wall 48 of the raised portion 36 of the bottom wall 14 of the burner. The upper member 92 includes a side wall 100 which is of arcuate vertical cross-section. At its lower end the arcuate side wall 100 terminates in a vertically disposed flange 102 and at its upper edge the arcuate side wall 100 terminates in a generally horizontally extending flange 104. The diameter of the upper member 92 at the cylindrical flange 102 is slightly greater than the diameter of the lower member 94 at the upper edge of the inclined wall 96. The baflle members 92 and 94 are arranged to be held in assembled relation by suitable spacer clips 106, with the wall 96 spaced radially inwardly of the wall 100 with its depending cylindrical flange 102 so as to provide an annular gap 108 between these two baflie members. Flange 102 overlaps wall 96 and terminates at a level in a plane below the upper edge of wall 96. This arrangement of the annular gap 108 provides a passageway for recirculating gases into vaporizing and mixing chamber 60 from the space above and within the baflle members 92 and 94 and the overlapping relation of flange 102 with respect to the wall 96 serves to discourage the escape of air-oil vapor mixture from chamber 60 through gap 108 in the same manner as described above with respect to slots 56 in the bafile 42, shown in Fig. 1.

Here again, as in the principal form of the invention, Figs. 1 through 5, the air fingers or jets entering the mixing chamber 60 through the primary air inlet openings 54 impinge against, and are deflected downwardly along, the outside of the conical baflles 74 and 92, Figs. 6 and 7, and flanges 84 and 102, respectively, deflect this air downwardly and tend to turn it radially outwardly along the bottom 14 of the burner. The sweep or flow of the fluid by flanges 84 and 102, respectively, creates a venturi action which draws the gases from within and above the conical baflles 74 and 92 through the gaps or annular slots and 108, respectively, into the mixing chambers of the form of burner shown in Figs. 6 and 7 where it is again recirculated with the initial mixture forming in these mixing chambers. In all forms of the invention the conical bafile shields the liquid oil on the bottom wall 14 from direct radiation from the flame at low, intermediate and high fire, that is, any fire higher than minimum fire.

Slots 56, 90 and 108 in the baflle promote a very desirable low temperature vaporization of the oil. Two other structural features also promote low temperature vaporization of the oil; namely, the flat bottom 14 of the peripheral mixing chamber allows the incoming oil to spread out in a thin film over a large area and the raised center 36 absorbs heat radiated from the flame and conducts the heat in a direct unbroken path to the bottom 14. The structure embodying the raised center 36 with the conical batfle press fitted thereover is advantageous in that it avoids the need for an oil-tight joint between the bottom of the burner and the bafie.

The baflie arrangement shown in Fig. 9 utilizes a baffie 110 similar to that shown in Fig. 6. Conical baflle 110 is provided with a cylindrical or peripheral flange 112 at its lower end and a peripheral or horizontal flange 114 at its upper end. The baflie 110 is positioned or fixed within the burner with flange 112 telescoped over the raised cylindrical portion 36 of the burner bottom 14. By way of illustration, baflle 110 has welded thereto a plurality of circumferentially spaced clips which contact wall 48 and support the bafile 110 around raised portion 36 as shown. The lower edge of flange 112 is positioned above the bottom of the burner to provide a substantial clearance or gap 116 between the lower edge of the bafi'le and the bottom 14 of the burner. Flange 112 is also spaced from wall 48 to provide an annular gap or slot 118 between flange 112 and side wall 48. In this form of the invention, wall 48 acts as a part of the bafiie.

This form of the burner operates the same as the burner shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Annular gaps or slots 118, 116 provide a communication through which gases flow from above and within conical baffle 110 into mixing chamber 60 in the same manner as described above with respect to slots 56, 90 and 108. The circulation of the gases in this form of the burner is the same as that described above with respect to the other forms of burner.

From the above it is evident that the bafile can be made in one or several parts. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the baflle 42 is made of one integral part whereas in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9, the baflles 74 and 90 are each made of two separate metal parts. However, in all forms of the invention the baflle is provided with a slot (56, 90, 108, 118) adjacent its lower edge to provide for the above-described flow or recirculation of gaseous mixture from within and above the baflle into the mixing chamber 60 and in all cases the slot or gap is shielded by a flange or louver (58, 84, 102, 112) which performs an essential function in the eflicient operation of the burner as above described and illustrated in the drawings.

In all forms of the invention it should be noted that at low or intermediate fires such, for example, as is illustrated in Fig. 3, when the air-oil vapor mixture flows upwardly along the burner side wall 16 between or through the pencils or jets of primary air flowing into the burner through openings 54, these pencils or jets are furnishing secondary air to this mixture. Thus, air inlet openings 54 are a source of both primary and secondary air when the burner is operating at low or intermediate fire. Thus, referring to Fig. 3, at low fire the air-oil 7 vapor mixture" flowing through circiimferential gap '62 between=theupperedge of baffle 64andwall 16 is acom- "-bustible"mixture'which has been supplied withs'e'conda'ry air-in the manner above described.

-We claim:

' lfcombustion" apparatus of the 'vaporizing type cornprising an open top burner pot having a bottom walland a'side' wall, nieans' fordirecting oil ontosaid=bott'om' wall, a bathe insa'id'burner pot above said'bottom' wall, said bafiie having-an upper portion and a lower portion, there 'beinga space'between said upper portion and the burner side wall forming a relatively narrow gap adjacent said side wall which permits vapors below the bafile to haw into the space above the-ba'file,- "said' lower portion "of the bafile "being-disposed closely adjacentsaid bottom wall, said "baffle beingpositioned with respect to the bot- -*torri Wall andthe adjacent portion'of-the sidewall of the burnerdopr'ovide a" mixing chamber; primary air inlet means disposed generally at the level-ofthe upper portion of saidbaffleior admittingair into said mixing chamber and directing the air in a'dire'ction adjacent the baflie and-toward the bottom of'thebu'rner, a communication' from the mixing'orunder side of said baflle to the other or upper side of said bafile, and means adjacent it said communication and-thelower portion of the -baflie for defiectingtheair entering the rnixing chamber through the primary air-inlet means downwardly past saidcommunication toward the b'ottom of the burner whereby during the operationof the burner gas flows from above the burner through said communication'into the mixing chamber and I gaseous flow "in the reverse direction -through said communication is inhibited.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1" wherein said baflle is inclineddownwardly-and inwardly toward 1 the a bottom of the burner -and theprimary 1 air inlet means "comprises a "plurality'ofinlet openings in'-- the side wall of theburner.

3. The combinationclaimedin claim 2 wherein the "center portion of-the bottornwall is' r'aisedand the ba'flie is provided with a flange at its lowerportionwhich overlaps the raisedcenter portion of the bottom' -of the'burner, said flange being spaced only slightly'fromsaid"raised center portion and from the bottom of the-burnerto provide a communication'betweenthe mixing chamber and the space abovevthe bafile' and whereby the baffle substantially completely shields the oil on said bottorn wall between .said raised centerkportionand the "side wall thereof.

4. The combination claimed inc1aim-3 wherein the baffle is frusto-conical and provided with a cylindrical flange at'its lower portion and wherein the raised center portion of. the burner bottom isprovided with a cylindrical side wall which is positioned within-and closely adjacent the annular flange on the baffle.

5. 'The combination claimed in'claim 1 wherein said gap is -of=greater area than said communication.

6.I The combinationclaimed in-claim 1 'wherein said primary'air inlet means are disposed adjacent said gap and on the upstream side thereof so that the air admitted =into said mixing chamber comes into immediate contact with the vapors fiowing through said gap into the space above said bafiie.

'- 7..cbmbustien app'aratus"of--- thevapofiiing 'type co'mprising an open 'top burner pot-having a bottonr walhand a side wall; means for directing: (sil -onto: said bbttom wall, ai baflle in 'said burnerpot:abovw said bottorn wall, "said b'afile i *being inclined J radially-inwardly and down- 'wai'dly from closely adjacent the burner sidewall, at 'l'east a portion of the outer edgeof said baflle being 1 spaced from the burner side wall to provide a-narr'ow .gap therebetweem'whichpermits vapors to:flow1-from -below the baflie' into the' s'pace abovethe bath the inneredge of said baflle comprising a depending flangewhichterrninates in a plane spaced slightly-above the bottom'wall of the burner to provide a lgap therebetween: to-permit vapors from the space above-thebafiie toflovwinto'the space between 'the bafile= and-the bottom wall-of --the burner and air inletopenings in the burner 'side wall-disposed at the level of said outer edge-of-thebaflle fon'directingstreams of air-against or along the side-of 'the baflie disposed towards said bottom-wall, the downwardly inclined-portion of said-baffle and -said flange serving to defiect air admitted through 'said inlet openings downwardlytowards-the bottom wallof the burneraandsaid flange shielding said 'last mentioned gap to -inhibit the flow of vapors in'areverse direction through said-last mentionedugap.

8. The combination set: forth in claim 7 wherein the bottom Wall of saidburner is' provided witha raised central portion defining an annular oil channel below said baflle, said flange at-the' inner edge of said-b'afllebeing spaced radially outwardly from but closely adjaccntsaid raised central portion.

-9. :The combinationset forth in claim Twhereinrsaid -first mentionedtgap is of greatcr-area than -said second mentioned .gap.

1 0. The combination set forth in claim 7 Wher'einLeaid air inlet openings: are disposed adjacent the: spaced apart portions of the outer edge of said baffle and thezs'ide wall and-on theupstream side thereof wh'erebythe air admitted through said inlet openings 1 comes into immediate contact with the'vapors flowing throu'gh said narrow gap into the space-above the bafile.

11.- The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said raised central portion includes a generally 1 cylindrical side wall portionandsaid flange is. generally cylindrically shaped, said last mentioned sidewall portion-and said flangebeing radially 'spaced apart to form "a vertically extending annular-slot therebetween, -said slot comtnunicating'at its upperend with the space above said bafiie and its lower end with:said second-mentionecL gap.

References-Cited in' the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

